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Everyone and THEIR mother knows Trotter... oops little typo.

Also, look at some of the best defenses in the NFL they all have great LB corps.

baltimore - r. lewis, t. suggs, adlius thomas
chicago - b. urlacher, l. briggs
new england - bruschi, vrabel
pittsburgh - j. farrior, j. porter
san diego - donnie edwards, shawne merriman

then look at us trotter, bowtie, and x.

of course, i just noticed, with the exception of chicago, those are all 3-4 defenses. i brought this up last yr and most ppl dismissed it and a few made a small debate of it. i think its worthwhile to atleast discuss again:

Most of the top defenses are 3-4. How would u feel about the eagles switching to a 3-4? the biggest thing i would like about it is that theyre addressing the D in a big way. beyond that...

here's my feeling, the major if not only area that needs to be addressed this off season is the front 7. it wouldn't be too difficult to make the necessary personnel changes for the change.

i think we should get rid of d-line coach jenkins anyway . you could hire some assistants with the experience in a 3-4 to make the transition go more smoothly.

personnel wise you definitely need a big DT. after that the LBs would be Trotter and Gaither in the middle with hopefully a first round draft choice on the outside. you could have gocong (who was a DE in college) be one pass rush specialist LB on the outside. depending on how u set up the line (which could change alot and rotate) u'd have cole and kearse out there sometimes too. the d-line would need a big anchor at NT. then u could have howard and patterson on the outside. on passing downs u could move patterson inside and move kearse back to the line.

I'm not sold on the 3-4, im just trying to spark a debate. But one of the benefits is the versatility. there are so many different things week can do with it. and JJ loves to rotate guys and keep em fresh. its easier to rotate a 3man line personnel wise over a 4 man one. also JJ loves to throw in blitzes that could come from more players.

it might be too difficult logistically because of huge changes to the play book or difficulty adapting. but its worth discussing even if its just for a fun exercise in football philosophy, right?

If they're content to let Thomas walk this offseason cos theyve already invested too much $ on Howard, Cole and Kearse- what makes you think they'd be willin to scrap the pair of undersized, 1st round picks they took at DT, to change em out for the kinda HOSS it's goin to take to clog that middle, in any 3-4 scheme.

Oh, and the fact that they haven't four proven LBs on the roster yet- in any combo, is the final nail in that coffin.

Exactly. If the Eagles can;t find 3 LBs capable of playing 60 minutes without embarrassing themselves, why should I vote for a defense that require 4?

In all seriousness, I like the 3-4 and I think it creates a million matchup problems while maximizing salary cap space (simple math- LB's are cheaper than d-linemen).

However, You can't just say "Let's be a 3-4 defense" with a 4-3 coordinator and 8 years of 4-3 draft picks and FA pickups...especially with how light they draft linemen. The Eagles DT's would be small DE's in a 3-4.

Not to be a pain in the ass, but

You can't just say "Let's be a 3-4 defense" with a 4-3 coordinator and 8 years of 4-3 draft picks and FA pickups...

By this logic, defenses are either permanently locked into their format or they're oscillating between 3-4 and 4-3 wildly.

Will a transition to a 3-4 be costless? Of course not, but that isn't a legitimate reason to not consider it.

(I have no opinion on 3-4 vs. 4-3.)

dallas did it overnight. they took ware and spears in the first rd and became a 3-4 defense. if im not mistaken they went to playoffs that yr and have been considered a good defense ever since

if JJ ever leaves or retires, then the 3-4 is a possibility if the new def. coord. runs that kind of defense. JJ is a 4-3 guy, and will not change at age 62 or whatever age is actually is.

the eagles need enough on defense right now to keep an open mind in the first round. why take the 6th best LB, at wherever they pick, if the 2nd best safety or DT is still on the board, and fits their defensive scheme. one thing i've learned from listening to rdiddy on sat am, talent is only half the need in FA or the draft. you also have to get a guy who can plug into the system you run, and can work there effectively. every talent doesnt fit every system.

By this logic, defenses are either permanently locked into their format or they're oscillating between 3-4 and 4-3 wildly.

Will a transition to a 3-4 be costless? Of course not, but that isn't a legitimate reason to not consider it.

(I have no opinion on 3-4 vs. 4-3.)

It's easier with some teams than others.

First step, you have to fire Jimmy Johnson.

Second step is getting a 3-4 coach and new coaches for the front 7.

Third step, you have to get rid of every tackle you have but MAYBE Bunkley (if he can even play) and make him a 3-4 end/interior lineman. None of the others are stout enough or have the potential to be stout enough in a 3-4.

Fourth step is making Trotter a 3-4 inside backer for the first time in his life.

Fifth step is finding someone else to play next to him. MAYBE Gaither. Maybe.

Sixth step is teaching Kearse and Cole how to play as outside backers with Gocong as a reserve.

7th step is finding a 350 lb. space eater to play the nose.

8th step is drafting/adding all new backups. The Eagles play a small, quick brand of defense and none of their tackles or linebackers other than the ones previously mentioned fit the bill.

9th step is waiting a few years to see if it works out.

And yeah...the Cowboys made the switch to the 3-4 overnight. Parcells has been around the 3-4 his whole life, but they still signed a nose and spent the following picks on the front 7 over the last 2 drafts just through the first 4 rounds:

- 1st round 2005 (DE/OLB)
- 1st round 2005 (DE/DT)
- 1st round 2006 (OLB)
- 2nd round 2005 (OLB)
- 3rd round 2006 (DT/DE)
- 4th round 2005 (DT/DE)

That's a pretty hefty price for a front 7 considering all the Eagles have put into the front 7 on players that no longer fit their new scheme.

Oh, and after all that...the Cowbots D allowed 6 fewer yards per game than the Eagles this year and 2 MORE points per game than this Eagles defense we're blowing up.

I am in no way against the 3-4. I like it as a scheme and I think it's a cheaper/easier way to build a team. I'm also not thrilled with the existing defense as it is operating.

However, unless you want to completely and utterly rip the roster and coaching staff to shreds to give it a shot, it isn't realistic. This team is simply full of players who would be of no use in that scheme. At this point, you have to tweak what you have or blow it the fuck up and make another run a few years.

The depth and volume of F-D's posting on a multitude of subjects never ceases to amaze, astound and concern me. I seriously begin to question whether he is drinking enough to continue to be considered a respected poster around here.

Remember this: If Stallworth enters free agency and signs for huge dollars elsewhere, the Eagles would likely be awarded a compensatory pick.

I think, Spuds (aka the Team) has spoken. They'll lowball Stallworth and then Smeagol the comp'd draft pick.

Assholes.

NO WAY DONTE is returning. I have not heard one positive thing regarding his status. Spuds spin machine is in full effect. The reality is that he is going to get a max-contract, he is the best WR on the market, by far. The Birds aren't going to pay for that. Truth be told. Id rather the eagles have signed Stallworth this year with the money they used with Patterson. They could have waited a year to re-sign Patterson, it wasn't a pressing need. Especially because the eagles are now in a situation where "oh-gosh, we put too much $ into the D-line." I agree with the Cole signing, the Patterson signing is way premature.

Gold standard, baby. Gold standard.

Ah...but the draft picks. How many Barry Gardners/Quinton Cavers/Gari Scotts can they find this year?

I agree about the Patterson signing. When it happened, I immediately thought, "Why now?" I understand the Birds' mentality is to quickly identify players they assume will blossom and then sign them into long-term contracts before they hit their stride and reach market value. Regardless, Patterson was nowhere near that point, and he had plenty of time left on last year's contract. They flat-out rushed that one, and if Patterson doesn't turn into a Pro Bowler this year, it was a mistake to extend him so early on.

It's going to be poetic justice when Dallas signs Stallworth and cuts T.O., but this time the spurned Eagles receiver won't drop the ball.

I think the Eagles should get away from "character guys" and start signing/drafting all the convicted criminals they can...nothing gives your team attitude like psychopaths playing for it.

What that really a fake punt at the end of the first half?

The announcers said it was, as well as the NFL's official "gamebook":

4-13-NO 32(:25) (Punt formation) 7-S.Weatherford up the middle ran ob at
NO 47 for 15 yards (21-W.James). Weatherford fakes punt, runs for first
down.R12

I think it was a missed block at the line and the punter made a great play.

Or it was the balliest fake punt I've ever seen!

correct, not a planned fake. Great play by the punter.

It was a heads-up play by the punter. Barber came through unblocked, and the kicker just got out of Barber's way, but when he saw most of the Eagles running towards where the ball should've been kicked, he decided "what the heck" and ran for the first.

Reid's Read In Interview




January 18, 2007
By DAVE SPADARO


Head coach Andy Reid addressed many issues on the fans' minds on Thursday afternoon when he appeared on the afternoon show of WIP Sports Radio host Howard Eskin. Reid spoke for more than 30 minutes and talked about the loss in New Orleans and more as the Eagles ended their season with a collective 11-7 record.
Here is a transcript of some of the interview ...

On how he feels: "I'm proud of the guys and the coaches and what they accomplished."

On if he would have made any moves differently in the New Orleans game: "There is not much. You always start with the practice and the short week and so on. I wouldn't have changed anything there. I wouldn't have changed anything in the game. I mentioned after the game obviously about the fourth and 15 (at the end of the game. Reid chose to punt the ball away rather than go for the first down). You sit there and you have two choices. I felt I took the one that was the logical one, the one I thought was right from a football standpoint and it didn't work out. And so that can be questioned."

On elaborating on the fourth-and-15 call: "Number one, your odds of making a fourth and 15 are slim. You've taken a pretty good shot when you've gone with a fourth and 10. You've probably laid your best card out there for that play, so you really are working off your second-best play for that situation, not that you have a lot of plays for that situation, anyway. And then, I trust our defense. I'm partial -- I have the best defensive coordinator in the National Football League in Jim Johnson. I have trust in my players that if I give them the ball back, they can shut down the run. We know they are going to run the football. We didn't do it, but I just thought that was the logical way to do it."


Andy Reid trusted his defense to stop the run late in Saturday's game
On why he went for it on fourth and 10: "I thought I had a pretty good play. Again, you are rolling the dice. That one could have been scrutinized as much as this one. You start working the 10, you have a better chance, not a much better chance, but a better chance than you do on fourth and 15. You think you have a decent play you might convert on."

On trusting the defense, even though the defense had troubles against the run all game: "Hey, that's a legitimate question. You eliminate the pass in that situation, that's what you do. You narrow it down. There are no questions about what they are going to do. They are going to hand it to Number 26 (Deuce McAllister) and pound it right at you. Normally, if you know that is happening, you can make a legitimate stand on it. It didn't happen. It's my responsibility."

On why the defense didn't make the stop: "We got beat. It's simple there. We weren't able to take care of business and stop the run at that particular time. Really, it should never have come down to that. We should have taken care of business on both sides of the ball and on special teams earlier and made the game not quite that close of a contest."

If Donovan McNabb had been the quarterback, would Reid have taken more of a chance and gone for it on fourth and 15: "Well, no, I don't think so. It wasn't a situation of who could thow the ball the furthest or the hardest. I think everybody saw that on fourth and 10, they (Saints) had a maximum blitz on. They had no safety in the middle. It was man-to-man coverage on the outside and everybody else was blitzing. You don't have enough people to pick everybody up when a team is willing to do that. When you're sitting 10 yards, and you saw how Jeff (quarterback Garcia) got hit on the play -- he held it to the last second with that route -- now all of a sudden you're looking at 15 (yards) and you're thinking, 'My goodness, they're coming wiith the same thing.' There is no way your quarterback has time to do something with that particular defense. You calculate all those things in."

On the play-calling early in the fourth quarter when the Eagles settled for a field goal after having a second-and-1 play and failing to pick up the first down on two plays: "First down, we ran the football. Second down, we had a play that has a pretty good percentage of not being stopped. It has been one of those that hasn't been stopped the whole season. They (Saints) did a nice job with. They brought pressure off the outside (left side of Eagles line). We could have done a better job there.

"(on third down) That's a play (a pass to fullback Thomas Tapeh) that hasn't been stopped. It's been a play that has been very good for us down there all season. They did a good job on it. They got outside pressure on us and it was a legitimate blitz they brought off the corner and they did a good job with it. We weren't able to convert."

On whether the defensive line needs improvement: "No. What I think you need to do is, Bunk (Brodrick Bunkley) needs to be a year older, and (Mike) Patterson will be a year old, (Trent) Cole will be a year older. You get Jevon Kearse back in the mix. If you add somebody in there, you add somebody in there. But those fellas, I think that's a pretty good unit when it's healthy."

On Mike Patterson's play: "He's doing a solid job, is what he is doing. And that is what he is. You're picking late in the first round and you get a good, solid football player. That's what Patterson is. He doesn't make a lot of mistakes, he holds his ground, he gives you a little bit of a pass rush, he's tough as nails and he is going to be there every Sunday."

On who is the QB if Donovan McNabb is healthy for 2007 and Jeff Garcia is back as an Eagle: "It's Donovan. I think Jeff has told you that and I have told you that before. I don't think there is any question on that. It's a matter of Donovan just taking care of business now. He's working like crazy right now and I don't want anything distracting him. I want him focusing in on taking care of his knee and that is what he is doing. That is where he is at right now. He came out today and ran in the pool for the first time and didn't have limp when he ran in there. Those are all positive things. He's focused in right now and he is working his tail off."

On why Reid cancelled a planned McNabb press conference originally scheduled for Friday: "I saw nothing that would be beneficial for him to stand up (and have a press conference). I want him focusing in on taking care of his business and his leg and that is all that matters right now. He doesn't need to talk to anybody. He needs to take care of his business and that starts, No. 1 with his leg, and he's doing a great job with it. That's where it ends. When it is time, he'll talk. In the mini-camps, when the team is talking, he'll talk."

On the play of the linebackers: "We can continue to get better. We're young in that one particular spot (WILL, with Omar Gaither and Matt McCoy), we can get better there and we will. We'll see how things go from there."

On LB Chris Gocong: "He looked like he had a chance during training camp and then he got hurt and we weren't able to see too much after that. It's a guy who switched position (defensive end in college). He is going to need the mini-camps and the training camp to work that out and then I'll be able to give you a little better answer."

On his first-round draft picks: "We've done OK there. Have we been wrong? Yeah, we've been wrong a couple of times, and we've been right a couple of times. The bottom line is that you stay competitive and that you have an opportunity to get to the Super Bowl and win a Super Bowl. This year, we didn't get to play our No. 1 pick probably as much as I'd like to, but I think he (Bunkley) has a future on this football team and he'll work very hard at that."

On whether QB Jeff Garcia will return: "We'll see. It's too early to tell right now. I think after the season gets over and we get in that free-agency period or close by, you have a little better idea."

On whether WR Donte' Stallworth will return: "I enjoyed having Donte' here. He did a nice job. Again, we'll see as the free-agency process starts here."

On DE Juqua Thomas and his status: "Again, it's early here. I would tell you this: I'm not real big on losing defensive linemen. I want to try to keep as many of those guys as I can. I think it starts up front, and so I'll look at that very closely."

On whether McNabb will be ready at the start of the season: "Yeah, I think it will be close. I was happy to see what happened today. I think it was a big step today. Again, it was his first time running. He did it in the pool and he didn't have a limp. All of those things together are very important."

Well, I know...I know it's early but, here is Mel's early big board.

A ton of WR's and DE's in this draft......short on Safteys, LB's and DT's.....

1. Calvin Johnson Jr. WR Georgia Tech
2. Brady Quinn Sr. QB Notre Dame
3. JaMarcus Russell Jr. QB LSU
4. Joe Thomas Sr. OT Wisconsin
5. Alan Branch Sr. DE Michigan
6. Gaines Adams Sr. DE Clemson
7. Adrian Peterson Jr. RB Oklahoma
8. Jamaal Anderson Jr. DE Arkansas
9. Leon Hall Sr. CB Michigan
10. LaRon Landry Sr. CB LSU
11. Marshawn Lynch Jr. RB Cal
12. Dwayne Jarrett Jr. WR USC
13. Reggie Nelson Jr. S Florida
14. Ted Ginn Jr. Jr. WR Ohio State
15. Amobi Okoye Sr. DT Louisville
16. DeMarcus Tyler Sr. DT N.C. State
17. Charles Johnson Jr. DE Georgia
18. Lawrence Timmons Jr. OLB Florida State
19. Darrelle Revis Jr. CB Pittsburgh
20. Adam Carriker Sr. DE Nebraska
21. Quentin Moses Sr. DE Georgia
22. Levi Brown Sr. OT Penn State
23. Jarvis Moss Jr. DE Florida
24. Sidney Rice Jr. WR S. Carolina
25. Daymeion Hughes Sr. CB Cal
26. Colt Brennan Jr. QB Hawaii
27. Greg Olsen Jr. TE Miami-FL
28. Robert Meachem Jr. WR Tennessee
29. Victor Abiamiri Sr. DE Notre Dame
30. Tony Ugoh Sr. OT Arkansas
31. Zach Miller Jr. TE Arizona State
32. Dwayne Bowe Sr. WR LSU

Good bit from Eckel The Ugly:

It's not too soon to give up on Howard, who was not the player the team hoped when it signed him and will be 31 years old next season.

Most of Howard's money came in the form of a roster bonus last year, so getting rid of him would cause a $2.8 million cap hit, but take away his scheduled $2 million salary and the hit is just $800,000 (or what you made on Bartrum's retirement).

By the end of the season Juqua Thomas was playing better and getting more snaps than Howard. Thomas is a free agent, and letting him go to keep Howard would be wrong on several levels.

But it would be admitting an expensive mistake. Does the Gold Standard make expensive mistakes?

Let's keep wastes like Mahe and G. Lewis on the roster, year after year. But let a talented difference, like Stallworth, maker go. If the extend McDougle, I quit.

This FO drives me up a FUCKING WALL.

In his current role, I am not sure Lewis doesn't add some value to your roster.

Just sayin'- I wouldnt immediately cast him in the lot of worthless bodies like a Mahe.

And Mahe is a FA, so we're going to see just how far they'll go with this charade of "Renoe being very valuable".

They said over and over and over again that he would valuable to any team in the league, so I expect a bidding war and a big signing bonus for his "talent".

In his current role, I am not sure Lewis doesn't add some value to your roster.


Every team needs someone to pour Gatorade into those cups.

BTW, Jeff Garcia's supposed to be on Jay Leno either tonight or tomorrow night. Nothing of substance should be said. However, WIP (for entertainment purposes only) is saying that Garcia is too much of a competitor to be a backup QB and to paid like one.

Likely scenario? Garcia signs with someone else to compete for the job, and Neckbeard becomes the #2 with AJ being the #3 and the same arrangement that's been going on for years.

If Garcia leaves, he will be a failure whereever he ges. Mark it down.

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